LASER EYE SURGERY NEW ADVANCEMENTS: Countering Possible Side Effects

2007-03-08 10:33:40

( Health )



The past decade had seen extensive development in the medical field including eye surgery. Many of these technological and scientific advancements have been achieved with the use of laser. Today, eye laser treatment is the most commonly performed surgery to treat visual impairment.

Laser eye treatments are out-patient procedures that take only about thirty minutes to complete. It normally involves two phases. First, an incision is made in the eye to create a flap which will be folded back, and second, your cornea is reshaped to the desired form to correct your visual problem. This process can treat most cases of visual impairment like myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism. A nearsighted cornea is reshaped to become less steep while a farsighted one is made flatter. The uneven cornea of those with astigmatism can also be smoothed out during the treatment.

While there are benefits, it is undeniable that eye laser treatment often has side effects like glare, haloes, or nighttime vision problems. Laser eye surgery new studies reveal however that the side effects of the procedure can be minimized and even eliminated depending on the instrument used to make the flap.

Surgeons use either a knife called microkeratome or excimer laser to make the incision for the flap. However, laser eye surgery new studies show that procedures that used excimer laser for the incision result in fewer side effects and complications than those performed using microkeratome. Hence, it is best to use laser alone for both phases of the procedure. Another laser eye surgery new development to counter side effects is the creation of devices that help maintain an even amount of laser energy in the eye during the treatment.

Despite the possible side effects, laser eye treatments often result in better than 20/20 vision. Ideal candidates for the treatment are those of legal age and have eyeglass prescription that has been stable for at least a year. It is not advisable for pregnant and nursing women however.


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